Gash register



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. A. HERE.

CASH REGISTER.

No; 425,949. Patented Apr. 15,1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. A. HERR.

CASH REGISTER.

No. 425,949. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

\NVENTOR t i i i PEG? 2- W agvwmzsxfgs i 1 WMg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOMER A. IIERR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN CASH REGISTER COMPANY.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,949, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed September 28, 1889. Serial No. 3Z5A15. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.- is a cross-section on line to w of Fig. 9, and Fig. Be it known that LIIOMERA. HERB, of the 13 is a front elevation of the dials employed city and county of Philadelphia, and State of in the cover of the resetting mechanism.

Pennsylvania, have invented an Improve- A is the main frame of the machine, which 5 ment in Cash-Registers, of which the followmay be formed in any suitable manner.

ing is a specification. B is an operating-key, which is pivoted on My invention has reference to cash-registhe rod E and provided with a front extension ters; and it consists of certain improvements, projecting through a slot C in the case and all of which are fully set forth in the followterminating in the key-plate Z). Arranged to ing specification and shown in the accompaabove the said keys are two shafts GG, upon nying drawings, which form a part thereof. which are located registering-wheels F F, My invention has for its object certain imwhich are formed with teeth and a flat peprovements in the registering mechanism, to ripheryf, upon which are placed the numbers wit: a device for resetting the registeringor marks. The lower of these wheels F is 6 5 wheels after taking the statement of the maprovided with a project-ing pin II, which is so chine, a locking device for holding the resetarranged that it strikes the teeth in the upper ting mechanism normally against manipnlawheel F, and for each revolution of the lower tion, a cover provided with a lock to cover the wheel F it moves the upper wheel a distance end of the resetting-shaft and its lock except corresponding to one tooth. There being 20 when resetting the machine, said cover-being forty teeth in the lower wheel, and as for independent of the cover to the registereach revolution thereof we will haveamoveing-wheels, a registering device operated by ment of the upper wheel equal to the disthe movement of the cover for the resetting tance of one of its teeth, and as there are an mechanism, so as to show the number of times equal number of teeth in the upper wheel, 25 the resetting mechanism has been exposed a complete revolution of said upper wheel for manipulation by the removal of the cover, will indicate forty times the highest amount and a series of movable catches or pawls actupon the wheel F. The lower of these wheels ing on the registering-wheels to prevent their is intermittently rotated by means of the pawl backward movement, combined with the lock- Q, carried by the pivoted arm q,which latter 8o 30 cover, so that when the latter is opened the is operated by a projectionc on the lever B. pawls or catches are moved away from the The wheels F and F are prevented from movwheels. These features are specifically ing backward or being accidentallydisplaced pointed out in the general description. by means of spring pawls 0r catches O,which In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional eleare secured to the frame N, pivoted to the 8 5 3 5 vation of my improved cash-register on line ma'in frame A at n, and provided with an exy of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation tension or arm N, for a purpose hereinafter of same on line a: ocof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front described. It will now be seen that upon (leelevation of the locking mechanism for the pressing the key B the lower wheel F will be reset-ting device. Fig. 4 is a side view of the intermittently rotated one tooth at a time, 40 same on line b 25, with part of the casing or and upon making a complete revolution the main frame in section. Fig. 5 is an elevapin II thereof will move the other wheel F a tion of aportion of one of the resetting-shafts. distance of one tooth. The amount of the Fig. 6 is a crosssection of the same on line registration may be taken through the slots 2 2. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of one of the S S in the frame of the machine upon open- 45 pawls of same. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the ing the cover or plate 5, which shields the resetting-key. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation slots normally from the operator. The key of the locking mechanism for the resetting B is provided with a shield or guard D, exdeviees, taken on line 02 o of Fig. 11. Fig. 10 tending about its front portion, so as to is a rear elevation of the locking-cover with prevent wires or similar articles being inthe back removed. Fig. 11 is a front elevaserted through the slot C and employed to tion of the devices shown in Fig. 9. Fig.- 12 manipulate the registering-wheels F F.

There are a'series of these keys B, actuatingpawls, and wheels F F, arranged side by side, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4-, each of which corresponds to a different amount to be registered. For instance, the first five keys may correspond to from 1 to 5 cents, and the next nineteen continue from 10 cents to $1, increasing by fives, and the next series may represent from $2 upward, increasing by dollars. The first wheel F in one rotation would indicate 40 cents, the second 80 cents, the fifth $2, and so on, each wheel F in one revolution equaling a sum of the amount corresponding to the wheel multiplied by forty. The hubs of these wheels F and F are provided with V-shaped notches T, Fig. 1. The shafts G are provided with longitudinal grooves G, and at intervals apart corresponding with each'wheel the said groove is formed with recesses or depressions g. In these grooves G and recesses g are arranged pawls or catches P,which are forced outward against the inner surface of the hub of the wheels by means of springs 19, Fig. 6. If the shaft G is rotated, these spring-catches P catch into the notches T in the wheels F F and bring all of the wheels to the zero-line, so as to reset the machine. To insure the wheels all being brought to zero in front of the openings S S, I provide a locking-disk I upon the ends of the shafts, which locking-disk is provided with a notch 'Z. Pawls J- are forced into said notches z' to hold the said shafts G against revolution, and also to insure them being turned to the proper extent in resetting the machine.

To reset the machine it issimply necessary to lift the pawl J from the notch t', and with the key shown in-Fig. 8 applied to the square end 9 of the shaft G turn the said shaft and its disk I in the direction of revolution of the wheels F for one revolution of said disk or until pawl J snaps into the notch again. One revolution of each of the shafts G will have collected all of the wheels F F to zero and put the machine in the condition for starting over again. The resetting mechanism is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 1, in which we have the locking disks and pawls and square ends of the shafts G arranged within a box or compartment K on the end of the main frameA of the machine. Over this compartment is hinged the pivoted cover L. As shown, this cover is pivoted ml and arranged to slide under a catch 70, and furthermore is adapted to be locked in position by means of the lock M and key 111, which latter may be of any ordinary construction. tained by'the proprietor of the establishment employing the register. In resetting the wheels F F it is desirable that they shall not scrape against the springs O 0; hence to reduce the friction I provide the inner end of the pivotshaft Z of the lever L with, a crank V, which is connected by a link 0 with the arm or extension N of the pivoted frame N, carrying the springs 0. It will thus be seen The key would be rethat upon moving the cover L to expose the resetting mechanism the spring devices 0, with their frame N, are oscillated so as to be moved entirely away from contact with the wheels F F. Upon reloeking the lever L the springs O are returned to their normal position.

\Vhile in Figs. 3 and 1- the independent cover for protecting the resetting mechanism from manipulation is shown as of the simplest kind, I may employ a cover which shall not only protect the resettingmechanism against manipulation, but one which shall also register the number of times the said cover is removed to expose the end of the shaft or removable part of the resetting mechanism contained within the inelosing case or compartment K. These IIHPIOVGIVIIGIIIS are shown in Sheet 3 of the drawings, from Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive. In this case the cover L is made hollow, having a compartment L, in which are located the registering-dials (Z cZ. Outside of the cover L is arranged a plate K, which is secured to or made integral with the easeframe or main frame A. This plate K is provided with two perforations or apertures is", arranged immediately in front of the ends 1 of the resetting-shafts G G, and also with a key-hole 7a, which shall, when the cover L is closed, expose the keyhole of the lock M, so as to enable the key to be inserted for looking the cover in position. The d'ial mechanism is clearly shown in Figs. 9, l0, and 13. The dial (Z is provided with rigid teeth, and also with a projection m, which latter, when it is moved around, strikes the teeth of the dial (Z and turns it one tooth. The springpawls e are employed to hold the dials against backward movement or accidental displacement.

at is a movable slide, which is provided with a pivoted pawl p, which works in contact with the rigid teeth of the dial (Z. The spring 1) acts upon the pawl to keep it in contact with the teeth of the dial, and also to makeit normally assume the position shown in Fig. 10. It will now be seen that when the cover L is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 10, the end of the slide on strikes the wall A of the frame of the case and forces the slide in, turning the ratchet to the extent of one tooth. This slide 172 is shown as thrust in in Fig. 12. The faces of the dials are provided with numbers, as shown in Fig. 13, and these numbers are seen through the apertures Z in the cover L when it is turned or opened. Glass covers Z may be employed for the apertures Z, so as to prevent any manipulation of the dials from the outside. hen the cover L is locked in position, the apertures 7e are sealed, as are also the openings Z of the dials. However, when the cover is thrown open these apertures 7c are opened, and the windows or apertures Z to the dials are also exposed. The cover and the plate K have all the joints and screws soldered tight and then nickel-plated, so as to indicate at IIO once Whether any tampering has been attempted with the machine.

It is quite evident that any number of dials may be employed, as one or more will su'fiiee; but I prefer in practice two or more, as making the device more secure.

It is apparent that the registering mechanism for the cover of the resetting-meehanism compartment is applicable .to any system of registering mechanism for a cash-register, and therefore I do not limit myself to the particular employment of the special registering devices here shown.

I do not limit myself to the mere details of construction, as it is evident that they may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a cash-register, of a rotatable shaft having a longitudinal groove and a series of holes drilled into said shaft through the groove, a series of registeringwheels carried by the shaft having notches, a series of T-shaped pawls or catches guided by the groove and holes and adapted to engage with the notches or wheels, and a series of springs arranged in the holes under the pawls or catches and adapted to press them outward against the notches of the wheels, the said groove serving as a horizontal guide for all of the T-shaped pawls or catches to keep them in exact line with each other, so thatin resetting the machine all of the zero-marks on the wheels are brought into line.

2. In a cash-register, the combination of a shaft, a series of registering-wheels supported thereon, a series of spring-catches carried by the shaft and adapted to engage with shoulders upon the registering-Wheels upon rotating the shaft to reset said registering-wheels, a lock for holding the shaft in a fixed position except when resetting the machine, a case for inclosing the registering mechanism, aremovable auxiliary covering for the end of the shaft and lock independent of the case, a lock for said auxiliary covering to secure it in place to protect the end of the shaft, and a series of hand-operated keys to intermittently rotate said recording-wheels.

3. The combination, in a caslrregister having registering mechanism, of a series of registering-wheels held on a rotatable shaft and provided with V-shaped notches in the eircumference of their centers, a series of retaining-pawls to hold said Wheels in a fixed position against backward movement, a series of actuating-pawls to rotate said wheels, a series of keys, levers, or parts adapted to be operated by the hand to move said actuatingpawls, a rotatable shaft for supporting the registering-wheels, a case oncabinet for inclosing all of the above mechanism, a fixed lock for holding the rotatable shaft in a fixed position except when resetting the machine, a secondary or auxiliary case inclosing only the resetting end of the said rotatable shaft and its lock, a fixed and immovable perforated cover for this secondary or auxiliary case, a plate pivoted to but adapted to slide under the cover inclosing the perforation or aperture, and supplemental registering mechanism operated by this plate and adapted to operate each the time the plate is moved when exposing the resetting end of the shaft to register the fact that the plate has been moved.

at. In a cash-register, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a series of registering-wheels having V-shaped notches journaled upon said shaft, a series of spring-actuated V-shaped catches carried by the shaft and adapted to engage with notches in the wheels, a series of rotating catches or pawls to hold the wheels in the positions assumed, a series of actuating-pawls to rotate said wheels, a main ease for inclosing the registoring-wheels, a lock for locking the shaft in a fixed position except when resetting the machine, an auxiliary case inclosing the shaft-lock, a movable cover for said shaft-lock case, a lock independent of the main case to secure the cover over the shaft, and a series of keys to actuate said actuatingpawls.

5. In a cash-register, the combination of a series of registoring-wheels, a series of keys to rotate said wheelsone for each wheel-a rotatable resetting-shaft for said wheels, adapted to rotate all of the wheels, a series of catches to prevent the backward rotation of said wheels, and a movable frame to which the catches are secured and adapted to move said catches bodily into or out of contact with the wheels.

6. In a cash-register, the combination of a series of registering-wheels, a series of keys to rotate said wheels extending through the end of the machine, a movable cover to cover or expose the end of the resetting-shaft, a series of catches to prevent the backward rotation of said wheels, a movable frame to move said catches into or out of contact with the wheels, and a connection between the movable cover and frame, whereby the catches are automatically moved away from the wheels when the end of the resetting-shaft is exposed.

7. I11 a cash-register, the combination of a series of registering-wheels, a series of actuating-pawls for operating said wheels, a series of secondary levers to which the pawls are secured, a series of keys or hand-operated parts for operating the secondary levers, a vibrating or movable frame movable to and from the registering-wheels, a series of sprin pawls carried by said frame and adapted to act upon the registering-wheels to prevent their backward rotation, and means to move the frame to bring the pawls into or out of contact with the registering-wheels.

8. In a cash-register, the combination of a rotatable resetting-shaft, a series of registering-wheels supported upon said shaft, a series of spring-catches carried by the shaft and adapted to engage with the Wheels at one place only in their circumference, a shaft-lock to hold the shaft against rotation, and a cover to the auxiliary case, a key-operated lock to normally look the cover in place and shield the shaft-lock against manipulation, a registering mechanism operated by the movement of the cover, and a series of keys to intermittently rotate said registering-wheels in one direction.

9. The combination, in a caslrregister, of registering mechanism, hand-operatin g parts and connecting mechanism for operating said registering mechanism, an inclosing main case for sealing said registering mechanism against manipulation, except through the hand-operating keys or parts, resetting mechanism extending to a point without the said case, an inclosing-case surrounding the said resetting mechanism which extends beyond the main case, an inclosing movable cover for the auxiliary case for exposing or sealing entrance to the resetting mechanism, and registering mechanism operating by the movement of the cover of the auxiliary case to register the number of times said cover has been removed.

10; The combination, in a cash-register, of a rotating resetting-shaft, a series of registering-wheels carried by said shaft, a main case inclosing said registering-wheels and all but the end of said shaft, hand-operated parts or keys for operating said registering-wheels, an inclosing auxiliary case for the end of said shaft, a fixed and immovable cover for the auxiliary case, having an aperture through which the end of the resetting-shaft may be manipulated, a movable plate or cover adapted to be moved with respect to the immovable cover, so as to close the aperture, and a lock to lock said movable plate or cover.

1].. The combination, in a cash-register, of a rotating shaft,a series of registering-Wheels arranged upon said shaft, resetting mechanism in connection with said shaft and registering-wheels, a main case inclosing the registeringwheels, an inclosing auxiliary case for the end of said shaft, through which it may be operated in resetting the registeringwheels, a movable cover for said inclosing auxiliary case, a lock to lock said cover in position, so as to close the case and seal the end of the shaft against manipulation, and automatic registering devices operated by the movement of the cover to indicate each time the said cover is moved.

12. The combinatiomin a caslrregister, of a rotating shaft, a series of registering-wheels arranged upon said shaft, resetting mechanism in connection with said shaft and registering-wheels, an inclosing-case for the end of said shaft, through which it may be operated in resetting the registering-W11eels, a movable cover for said inclosing-case, a lock to lock said cover in position, so as to close the ease and seal. the end of the shaft against manipulation, and automatic registering devices operated by the movement of the cover to indicate each time the said cover is moved, and in which the registering mechanism is carried by the cover, and provided with a movable part which is pressed against the main frame or stationary part of the case when the cover is closed, whereby the said registering mechanism is intermittently operated by the opening or closing of said cover.

13. The combination, in a cash-register, of a rotating shaft, a series of registering-wheels arranged upon said shaft, resetting mechanism in connection with said shaft and registering-wheels, an inclosing-case for the end of said shaft through which it may be operated in resetting the registering-wheels, a movable cover containing within it one or more recording-dials, a lock to lock said cover over the inclosingcase, and a movable part carried by the said cover adapted to be brought in contact with the case when the cover is closed to operate the said dial or dials, and thereby indicate the number of times the said cover has been opened.

14. The combination, in a cash-register, of a rotating shaft,aseries of registoring-wheels arranged upon said shaft, resetting mechanism in connection with said shaft and registering-wheels, an inclosing-case for the end of said shaft, through which it may be operated in resetting the registering-wheels, a movable cover containing within it one or more recordingdials, a lock to lock said cover in position, so as to close the case and seal the end of the shaft against manipulation, a movable part carried by the said cover and adapted to be brought in contact with the case when the cover is closed to operate the said dial or dials, and thereby indicate the number of times the said cover has been opened, and a shield or guard-plate extending from the case over the cover and provided with an opening, by which the end of the resetting-shaft may be operated upon opening the cover of the case and adapted to hide the figures of the dial or dials when the cover is closed.

15. In a cash-register, the combination of registering mechanism, a main inclosing-ease for said registering mechanism, a resetting part for said registering mechanism, an auxiliary inclosing-case for said resetting part, whereby it may be operated, a removable cover independent of the main case for said inclosing auxiliary case, registering mechanism operated by the movement of said cover to indicate the number of times it has been moved, and a lock to lock the said cover in a position over the case, so as to seal the resetting part against manipulation and yet allow entrance to the main case.

16. In a cash-register, the combination of a movable part for resetting the registering mechanism, with an inclosing-ease for said movable part, a movable cover forsaid inclosing-case, an outer shield or plate secured rigidly to the inclosing-case and provided with an aperture, whereby said rosettin g part may A rmJJ be operated when the cover is removed, a lock to lock the cover in its closed position over the case, and registering mechanism carried by the case and having dial-openings in its face,

which come under the dial-openings in the rigid plate when the cover is removed for resetting the machine.

17. In a cash-register, the combination of a resetting part for the main registeringdials of the machine, an inclosing-case for said resetting part, a hollow movable cover for said case, a lock to lock said movable coverin position to seal the case against manipulation of the movable resetting part, and registering mechanism located Wholly within the cover and shielded by it for registering the number of times the said cover is opened.

18. The combination, in a cash-register, of a rotating resetting-shaft, a series of registering-wheels carried by saidshaft, a main case inclosing said registerii'lg-wheels and all but the end of said shaft, hand-operated parts or keys for operatin g said registering-wheels, an inclosing auxiliary case for the end of said shaft, a fixed and immovable cover for the auxiliary case, having an aperture through which the end of the resetting-shaft maybe manipulated, a movable plate or cover adapted to be moved with respect to the immovable cover, so as to close the aperture, and a lock to lock said movable plate or cover, and registering devices carried by the movable plate or covering for indicating the number of times the said cover has been moved to expose the end of the resetting-shaft.

In testimony of which invention I have herennto setmy hand.

HOMER A. HERB.

Vitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER. 

